Fire escape window

ABSTRACT

An improved window pane for a house or building so to permit a person to quickly escape outward therethrough without need to raise the window sash in case of a fire; the window pane consisting of a transparent clear plastic panel molded within a rigid rubber frame that fits into the window sash, the edge of the panel being scored or perforated, and one corner of the panel being secured to one end of a pull cord which at its other end is attached to a ring for being conveniently pulled by a person to rip out the transparent panel from the frame so to quickly make an access opening through which he can escape out of the house or building.

United States Patent :19]

Gomboc Mar. 19, 1974 FIRE ESCAPE WINDOW [22] Filed: Mar. 7, 1972 g [21] Appl. No.: 232,429

[52] U.S. CI 49/141, 49/463, 49/466 [51] Int. Cl E06b 3/32 [58] Field of Search 52/98; 49/141, 463, 465,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,679,467 5/1954 Sherts 52/98 X 3,168,976 2/1965 Metzger 206/4531 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 758,023 7/1954 Germany 49/141 698.226 10/1953 Great Britain 49/141 Primary Examiner-Kenneth Downey [57] ABSTRACT An improved window pane for a house or building so tb permit a person to quickly escape outward therethrough without need to raise the window sash in case of a fire; the window pane consisting of a transparent clear plastic panel molded within a rigid rubber frame that fits into the window sash, the edge of the panel being scored or perforated, and one corner of the panel being secured to one end of a pull cord which at its other end is attached to a ring for being conveniently pulled by a person to rip out the transparent panel from the frame so to quickly make an access opening through which he can escape out of the house or building.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures FIRE ESCAPE WINDOW SPECIFICATION This invention relates generally to house and building windows. 7

It is generally well known that often when a person tries to escape from a burning house by climbing out of the window, he finds the window stuck so that it cannot be raised, and he is therefore obliged to break the window glass to form an opening through which he can crawl. This is of course objectionable, as it requires extra precious moments to break the glass when escape is wanted to be quick, and there is a danger of getting badly cut up by glass fragments left in the window sash. This situation is objectionable and therefore in want of improvement.

Accordingly it is a principle object of the present invention to provide a fire escape window which permits quick escape for a person without need to raise a window sash or break the glass.

Another object is to provide a fire escape window wherein the window pane is made of soft flexible plastic which can be easily and quickly ripped off and which eliminates any sharp edges on which a person could cut themselves.

Yet another object is to provide a fire escape window I which can be made in single or double pane for thermal insulation.

Other objects are to provide a fire escape window which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation. I

These and other objects will be readily apparent upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing wherein FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention mounted in a window sash.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the invention shown alone.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged detail thereof as viewed from the front and showing the scored edge of the pane panel.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawing in detail the reference numeral 10 represents a fire escape window according to the present invention wherein there is a special window pane 11 that can be fitted into a conventional window sash 12 of a house or building window 13.

The pane 11 is comprised of a flat panel 14 molded within a peripheral frame 15. The panel 14 comprises transparent, clear plastic material that is soft and flexible, whereas the frame 15 consist of rigid rubber material of sufficient thickness so that it will not bend but retains stiffly its shape and fits in the sash 12.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the edge of the panel 14 has a weakened score line 16 all around thereof. At one corner 17 of the pane 11, the panel 14 is integrally formed or secured to one end of a pull cord 18 of relatively short length and which at its other end is connected to a ring 19 that can fit a persons fingers for being pulled. The corner 17 is differently designed from the other comers of the pane so that it is stronger against any flexing force when the ring 19 is being pulled.

In case of a fire, an emergency escape can be made by pulling the ring 19 causing the panel to be pulled and torn along the scored edge line 16, thus quickly forming a safe opening through which a person can climb out.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it is understood that such changes will be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as is defined by the appended claims.

I claim as follows:

1. In a fire escape window the combination of a special window pane unit that can be fitted into a conventional window sash of a building window, said unit having a flat panel molded in a peripheral frame, said panel being formed of transparent, clear soft flexible plastic material and said frame of relatively rigid rubber, wherein the panel has a peripheral edge bounded by a weakened-score line, including a panel corner with a pull cord and pull ring affixed thereto for ripping out said panel along said scoreline from said frame, including a strengthened portion of said frame adjacent said comer to resist the pull when the panel is ripped away from the frame. 

1. In a fire escape window the combination of a special window pane unit that can be fitted into a conventional window sash of a building window , said unit having a flat panel molded in a peripheral frame, said panel being formed of transparent, clear soft flexible plastic material and said frame of relatively rigid rubber, wherein the panel has a peripheral edge bounded by a weakened score line, including a panel corner with a pull cord and pull ring affixed thereto for ripping out said panel along said scoreline from said frame, including a strengthened portion of said frame adjacent said corner to resist the pull when the panel is ripped away from the frame. 